Gautam Gambhir, the head coach of the Indian cricket team, turned 43 today, October 14. He was one of India’s best batsmen in the late 2000s and early 2010s and has achieved great success in his career. Known for his strong mentality and determination, Gambhir has delivered many match-winning performances for the Indian team over the years. He won the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007 and the ODI World Cup in 2011.
On the club level, he led the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to victory in the Indian Premier League twice, in 2012 and 2014, as their captain.
Today, let’s take a look at some of his best performances and his journey as a coach.
Gautam Gambhir’s Top 5 Performances For India
1. 97 vs. Sri Lanka, ICC Cricket World Cup Final 2011
In the 2011 World Cup final at Wankhede Stadium, Gautam Gambhir played a crucial role in helping India become champions. While chasing a target of 274 runs, Gambhir scored 97 runs off 122 balls and hit nine boundaries. India won the match by six wickets, marking their second World Cup victory.
2. 75 vs. Pakistan, ICC T20 World Cup Final 2007
In the 2007 T20 World Cup final against Pakistan at New Wanderers Stadium, Gautam Gambhir delivered an impressive performance, scoring 75 runs off 54 balls. His outstanding play helped India become the first champions of this ICC event.
3. 137 vs. New Zealand, 2009
Gautam Gambhir also made significant contributions in Test cricket. During India's tour of New Zealand in 2009, he scored 137 runs in the second innings of a match in Napier. This was one of his best performances in Test cricket, although the match ended in a draw.
4. 114 vs. Sri Lanka, 2009
In a Test match against Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad in 2009, Gambhir scored 114 runs in the second innings. He hit 13 boundaries in that innings, but the match was drawn.
5. 150* vs. Sri Lanka, 2009
Gautam Gambhir teamed up with a young Virat Kohli to deliver a dominant performance against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2009. He scored an unbeaten 150 runs, hitting 14 boundaries. His outstanding innings helped India secure a seven-wicket victory.
Gautam Gambhir’s journey as a coach/mentor
Before the IPL 2022 season, Gautam Gambhir was made the mentor of the new franchise, Lucknow Super Giants. Under his guidance, the team qualified for the playoffs every season until he returned to his former team, Kolkata Knight Riders, as a mentor in 2024.
Gambhir's arrival brought a lot of success to KKR, leading them to their third title. In the final, KKR easily defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad, led by Pat Cummins, winning the match by eight wickets.
After this successful IPL season, there was a lot of excitement about Gautam Gambhir possibly replacing Rahul Dravid as the head coach of India’s senior team. In July, the BCCI confirmed that Gambhir was appointed as the head coach of Team India. With important tournaments like the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, ICC Champions Trophy, and a potential World Test Championship final coming up in 2025, fans are eager to see how many more titles India will win under Gambhir’s leadership.
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